Marrakech Declaration adopted at International Council on Social Work symposium

Participants at the International Council on Social Work (IFSW) international symposium in Marrakech have adopted the ‘Marrakech Declaration’. Held under the theme ‘From Exclusion to Belonging’, the event aimed to identify innovative approaches to strengthen community ties and reduce social isolation.

The declaration calls on governments to recognize social isolation and loneliness as critical public policy issues, urging their integration into national and local strategies for social development, health, and housing. It recommends coordinated policies across social services, education, and digitalization.

The document highlights how rapid urbanization, demographic shifts, migration, and changing family structures exacerbate social exclusion. It specifically warns that technology can increase inequality if digital access and skills are distributed unevenly. The declaration also urges the private sector to design inclusive digital services and calls on universities to produce comparative research to train social work professionals.